Road Rally Set In State Forest Angers Pocono Residents

May 07, 1988|by TERRY MUTCHLER, The Morning Call

The running of today's Mazda Pocono Mountain Road Rally through state game lands in portions of Monroe and Pike counties has evoked anger from neighboring residents and prompted a state representative to get involved.

An expected field of 45 street-legal cars and trucks are scheduled to race through 30,000 acres of the Delaware State Forest as part of a national circuit of races sponsored by the Sports Car Club of America.

Harry Lucas, a retired Philadelphia real estate broker and 35-year cabin owner on the race's course, said state forest lands are not compatible with road racing.

"It's going to have an adversarial environmental impact," Lucas said. "Don't get me wrong. I'm a normal guy and like to have fun, but this is totally out of whack with the pristine forest."

District Forester Kenneth (Sam) Rhody Jr. said he believes every person should have the opportunity to use the forest lands as long as the environment isn't jeopardized.

The Sports Car Club of America applied for a permit, he said, adding that he didn't feel the race imposed any dangers to the forest.

"Sometimes they slide off the road andbang into rocks but that's not really a problem," he said. "It's just another recreational use of the state forest and it's going to be of considerable economic benefit to the area."

He said about 450 people associated with the race are expected to rent hotel rooms in the Poconos.

A 26-year veteran of the Bureau of Forestry, Rhody said part of his decision to grant the special-use permit was based the national road race held in Wellsboro, Tioga County. Vehicles also drive over state lands in that race, he said.

Another factor, he said, is that the group is covered by a $1 million insurance policy and representatives posted a $1,000 cash bond to ensure the forest will be cleaned up, if necessary.

"This is the first year in this end of the state, that's why it's such a big shock," he said. However, he said, future races will be based on the outcome of today's rally.

In an attempt to inform neighboring residents of the race details, the Blue Mountain and Philadelphia regions of the racing club sent out 400 letters to residents and cabin owners in the area, outlining the road race and the temporary inconvenience it will pose.

"The cars usually have bright auxiliary lights across the front of the vehicle and sometimes sporting (although legally approved) exhaust systems," the letter stated. "So, when the lights shine through the trees and the crackle of exhausts are heard in the dark of night, it is neither an invasion from Mars nor the Indianapolis 500; rather sporting enthusiasts from all over the United States."

The club requested residents to refrain from using gravel access roads from about 12:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m, "no later than midnight." It further asks residents not to shine bright lights at the drivers or take pictures with a strobe light because it could blind the racers.

Rally Master Boyd Smith said the vehicles - such as Mazdas, Saabs and Dodge Colts - will race 56 competitive miles but travel 130 miles total. Depending on their locations, he said, average speed will be 70 mph.

In addition to driving on state lands, Smith explained, drivers will use state roads and highways, but he stressed that drivers will maintain legal speed during those intervals.

Only while driving through "stages," or segments of road in which drivers will be timed, that the drivers will actually be racing, he added.

"Some state forest roads have very low speed limits," said Porter Township Supervisor Harold Hellyer. "I think anybody would be very naive to think these cars are going to go 15 or 20 miles per hour."

Hellyer also complained that the use of All Terrain Vehicles are restricted on game lands. He said he believes allowing race cars is unfair.

Rhody noted that other people also complained about restricted use of ATV's on the land.